The Marauders
This collection of portraits was a wonderfully challenging experience in animating with PAINT! Capturing the transformation of human to creature was a unique (and sometimes disturbing) experience... before you read on, you can watch them all be painted in one reel here on Instagram.
I enjoyed painting portraits of the original mischievous marauders, imagining them prowling the halls of their school late at night for snacks! Looking at the portraits together, it makes me a little sad thinking of how their friendship fell apart with the rise of "He Who Must Not Be Named."
"Common Garden Rat"
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| "Common Garden Rat" Original | Print | Digital |
This portrait is of Peter Pettigrew transforming into "Wormtail" the rat.
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With the video camera running, I painted this portrait starting from the human form, and then painted right over top of each stage to gradually morphing it into the tatty rat who spent twelve years hiding in plain sight in the Weasley household as their pet. I basically painted his portrait over and over again, ultimately ending at the final result of a common rat. |
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It was a bit disturbing to paint this way, but I did so to film it so you can watch him transform in this reel. Let me know what you think! My kids all said “ew!” |
"Professor?"
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| "Professor?" Original | Print | Digital |
This second portrait is a nod to Professor Lupin, and that moment after his transformation to werewolf when the look in his eye changes from man to beast.
“You know the man you truly are, Remus. This flesh is only flesh. This heart is where you truly live. This heart! Here!” —Sirius
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The original portrait print of Johann Van Beethoven (Beethoven's youngest brother) may or may not have been cut out of a book! (I also used other old portraits from the same book of Beethoven as the bases for my transformation paintings featuring the four friends, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot & Prongs) |
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This is the second of my transformation paintings… capturing each moment of transformation a werewolf goes through each full moon. Bones break, hair changes, teeth grow, cartilage stretches… it’s a painful process! I painted it starting from the human form, and then painted right over top of each stage to gradually morph it into the primal werewolf, completely unaware of his human heart and soul. |
"A Sweet Disposition"
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| "A Sweet Disposition" Original | Print | Digital |
"Normally, I have a very sweet disposition as a dog…. In fact, more than once, James suggested that I make the change permanent. The tail I could live with. But the fleas? They're murder." —Sirius Black
This portrait is of Sirius Black, transformed into a great black dog. I imagined how he would look if he had lived beyond the stories, hair greying but his eyes still kind.
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This is the third of my transformation animation paintings… I painted it starting from the human form, and then painted right over top of each stage to gradually morph it into the sweet dispositioned dog. |
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BUT! My camera roll was full, so towards the end of hours of painting, the recording failed and I did not capture the transformation animation! I was so disappointed. But… I enjoyed every minute of it, was a lovely experience looking into Sirius’s kind eyes as he transformed, and I grew as an artist through the process. |
"My Father Didn't Strut"
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| "My Father Didn't Strut" Original | Postcard | Digital |
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The day after my failed-filming of my portrait of Sirius, I decided to get back on the bicycle and paint the transformation of James into a stag. I wasn't planning on doing his portrait when painting animated portraits of the three school friends who met up in the third HP film. But, the series felt like it wasn't complete without painting James' portrait in his memory! A strong, proud stag. Who didn't strut... obviously. |
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I glued the print to a larger surface so I could paint the antlers "growing" out of the frame. I was very careful to make sure the record button was going this time... and the animated time-lapse looks so good if I do say so myself! (Watch it transform here on Instagram)
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To tie the collection together, I framed them in antique frames... and added a surprise on the back! I had a replica of the "Marauder's Map" which I snipped up to use for the backing of the framed artwork. When you line them up, the map goes from frame to frame, connecting the friends.
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I know it's the back of the picture and you won't see it often, but I think it's a nice finishing touch for the person who collects the original! I couldn't resist signing the back with my own footprints walking through the halls!
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A final note on the four friends...
